Definition references

Collins Dictionary:

a short quick draught, gust, or emission, as of wind, smoke, air, etc, especially a forceful one | the amount of wind, smoke, etc, released in a puff ... (27 of 731 words, 22 definitions, 10 usage examples, pronunciation)

Oxford Dictionary:

a short, explosive burst of breath or wind | the sound of air or vapour escaping suddenly | a small quantity of vapour or smoke, emitted in one blast ... (27 of 464 words, 22 definitions, 23 usage examples, pronunciation)

Random House Dictionary:

puff | powder puff [sense-specific] | puffball [sense-specific]

a short, quick blast, as of wind or breath. | an abrupt emission of air, smoke, vapor, etc. | an act of inhaling and exhaling, as on a cigarette or ... (28 of 389 words, 35 definitions, 4 usage examples, pronunciation)

puff[entry 3, adjective]

New World Dictionary:

puff

a short, sudden burst or gust, as of wind, or an expulsion, as of breath ; ... | a draw at a cigarette, pipe, etc. | a swelling, or a protuberance ... (29 of 263 words, 21 definitions, 1 usage example, pronunciation)

Macmillan British Dictionary:

puff[noun] | puffs [plural]

[countable] the action of breathing in smoke from a cigarette, pipe etc | [countable] the action of blowing or breathing out air so that it makes a ... (26 of 170 words, 6 definitions, 6 usage examples, pronunciation)

[intransitive/transitive] to smoke a cigarette, pipe etc | [intransitive] to breathe or blow out air noisily, especially because you have been ... (20 of 117 words, 3 definitions, 4 usage examples, pronunciation)

[countable] A sharp exhalation of a small amount of breath through the mouth. | [uncountable] The ability to breathe easily while exerting oneself. | [countable] A small quantity of gas or smoke in the air. | [informal, countable] An act of inhaling... (39 of 152 words, 12 definitions, 10 usage examples, pronunciation)

Cambridge Dictionary:

puff[entry 1] | puff and pant

to breathe fast and with difficulty, usually because you have been doing exercise | "puff and pant": to breathe fast and with difficulty, usually ... (23 of 54 words, 2 definitions, 2 usage examples, pronunciation)

Encarta Dictionary:

a short sudden rush of air, wind, gas, or smoke | the short sound made by a rush of air or gas | the amount of substance contained in a puff | a short ... (31 of 338 words, 20 definitions, pronunciation)

encarta​.msn​.com​/dictionary 1861736001​/definition​.html[offline]

Etymology references

Online Etymology:

puff

Origin: Old English pyffian "an act of puffing", of imitative origin. Used of small swellings and round protuberances since 1530s. Meaning "type of ... (22 of 68 etymology words)